News Releases

Three Suspects Charged with Burglary and Theft of Utility Poles - Total Value of $25,000

For Immediate Release: Saturday, August 23, 2014

Detectives from the 6^th District have arrested and charged Marvin W. Frazier, age 33, of the 13400 block of Whitechurch Circle in Germantown, and a 13 and 15-year old, with burglary and theft for breaking into a construction site and stealing five PEPCO utility poles having a total value of approximately $25,000.

This morning at approximately 1:40, officers were called to the area of Omega Drive and Research Boulevard in Rockville for a suspicious situation. The Emergency Communications Center (9-1-1) had received a call for subjects placing utility poles in a U-Haul truck in the area and the caller was concerned the poles had been stolen.

Officers responded to the area and located a minivan backing up to a U-Haul box truck in the Extended Stay America hotel parking lot located at 2621 Research Boulevard. As officers attempted to obtain information from the driver of the minivan, they observed three males, wearing gloves and dark clothing, run away from the area of the U-Haul truck. Officers were able to detain the three males in the Sleep Inn parking lot located at 2 Research Court. The first male was identified as Frazier. The other two males were identified as Frazier’s family members and are 13 and 15 years old.

Officer observed that the rear of the U-Haul truck was open and the length of the utility poles prevented the U-Haul door from completely closing. Signs for Interstate 270 were attached to the poles. Investigation by detectives revealed that the poles were stolen from Paradigm Companies’ construction site located at 9435 Key West Avenue. The construction site is bordered by two fences.

The driver of the minivan was identified as Frazier’s family member. She had been called by Frazier to pick him and the two juveniles up when Frazier realized that the poles would be visible and that it would appear suspicious if he drove the stolen property using the truck. Frazier stated that he had decided to park the U-Haul in the hotel parking lot and planned to return the next day.

Frazier was arrested and transported to the Central Processing Unit.  He was charged with second-degree burglary, fourth-degree burglary, and felony theft. The two juveniles were arrested and transported to the 6^th District station.  They were charged with second-degree burglary, fourth-degree burglary, and felony theft, and were released to the custody of a parent. The driver of the minivan was determined not to be involved in the burglary and theft and was not criminally charged.

RLI

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Release ID: 14-308
Media Contact: mcpnews 
Categories: press-releases